Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of the wrong runway for takeoff and his failure to maintain runway alignment. The sun glare was a factor in this accident.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot said that the sun blinded him as he rotated the aircraft on the takeoff ground roll. The airplane drifted from the runway centerline and collided with some trees adjacent to the runway. The pilot indicated that the surface winds were calm and that he could haved effected a westerly takeoff; however, he elected to takeoff toward the sun.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 3, 1994, at 0700 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210L, N732DT, collided with trees shortly after taking off from a private airstrip near Kettleman City, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Riverton, Wyoming. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his three passengers were injured. The pilot stated in the aircraft accident report that the sun blinded him as he lifted the nose on takeoff. The wing tip struck the tree branches alongside the airstrip, which turned the airplane into a row of trees. The pilot did not report experiencing any preexisting mechanical failures or malfunctions. The pilot indicated that a takeoff in the opposite direction could have prevented the accident. -